The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-16
THE POWER OF OLD OCEAN
As Seen by the Keeper of the Highlan'
Light ON Cape Cod.


Light Cape Cod.
Boston Globe
In 1896 Mr. James Small sold the general
government ten acres of land located the
bluffs at the back side of the cape known as the
Highlands, and the following year a wooden
lighthouse. the first on Cape Cod. was built on
the spot and called Cape Cod light. The build
ing was a crude affair, the light which
consisted of twelve oil lamps with refiectors,
which, combined, threw a light about eight or
ten miles out at sea. With the advance of sci
ence improvements were from time to time
made, both in the light and the building The
wooden structure gave place to stone tower,
and this was also followed IA time by the pres
emit structure, which is substantial tower of
brick situated in latitude 42o g 21", longitude
100 3 1S", cliffs lao feet above mean sea level
in this section.
The lens is six feet and and ten feet
high. being large enough to allow person to
stand erect inside and. with outstretched arms
just touch the opposite sides 1t Is of French
manufacture. made by l.. Sautter q Co.. of
Paris. in 1884, and put in position in 1851. Its
cost was $50, 900. In the center focus of the
the lens is a brass lamp of ten gallons capacity.
The burner is supplied with oil through supply
tube and float chamber containing float to reg
ulate the flow CT oil, supplying it as fast
sumed. The oil is forced into the foat-chamber
by a plunger within the lamp of 100 pounds
weight. made to fit air tight. The bulk of the
oil is kept far from the burner possible to
prevent heating. The burner has five wicks of
circular FORM within the others with air
spaces between the outer wick being four and
one-quarter inches in diameter; the i've wicks
taken together measure forty three inches in
length and the fame from which is carried to a
height of five inches. The consumption is two
quarts of first quality mineral oil every hour.
This oil is strained four times before reaching
the burner.
The lamp is connected by draft pipe having a
damper to regulate the flame, with the external
air through top of the Ian tern, and is thereby
dependent on the activity of the outer air and
very sensitive to every charge in direction and
force of wind, and requires constant tending.
Highland light is on one of the most promi-
nent points of the American coast and in full
- 81. Aaat ,,vn
past from the different ports. The sight at
times is magnificent one, many six hun
dred vessels having been counted passing in one
day. With the coasters occasionally appears
foreign tramp" steamer from the West Indies,
and from out at comes the square rigger
from Europe or the far East Indies. while away
off on the horizon can be seen the smoke of the
passing ocean steamers to and from Europe.
This is the first light made by the vessels from
foreign ports coming on this part of the coast.
The storms seen by the light-keepers
often terrible pictures of the powers of old ocean
The huge rolling in twelve and
fifteen feet high. and, breaking the bars,
cover the water with foam two and three miles
from the shore. The treacherous fogs often
shut in very quick making it at times impossi-
BILE to see fifty yards from the shore.
Connected with the light is Daboll fog-signal,
which has been In operation about fourteen
years. The blast of the trumpet is of eight
onds duration, with intervals of thirty seconds
between blasts nd is supposed to be heard at a
distance OF six miles.
The signal is run by the Ericsson caloric en-
of two-horse power each; two being used
time, it requiring two to accumulate pressure as
fast blown off. the third being kept in reserve
in case of accident. These hot-air engines are
much less dangerous, and more economical in
fuel consumed, using but twenty-five pounds of
coal per hour. while steam fog-signal at Race
Point uses about three times much in the
same time This trumpet is a reed instrument, of
"copper" about twenty feet in length. The reed
is a solid piece of STEEL about foot long, mar
and thin, and it is the vibration of this reed.
as air under high pressure is thrown against
it, that causes the hoarse sound that is thrown
ont the wild waves.
Many strange scenes have been witnessed by
the keepers of tn well-known light, and ghast-
Iy relics of shpwrecks have been found along
the shore. The log-b book tells of the loss of
many a good ship; sometimes 1t Is written ''all
lost" next, some have lived to tell the tale, and
next come the cheerful words "an saved" or
the ten acres originally purchased, about seven
remain. sure proof of the ravages of old
ocean. The cliffs at this point of heavy
clay soil, and wear away very slowly Beach
grass has caught in along the foot of the cliffs
in places, and has done more than all the money
from washing away.
Beach grass grows we'll in sandy places and
has proved one of the best of projections to Cape
Cod. The gradual waste away in this vicinity
has been estimated to be about foot per
year, while at other points the coasr-line
has increased The tides along here some
thing wonderful, sweeping down the coast faster
than man can walk.
lowed, in 1916. by the fixed white light on Race
Point In 1923 by the light on Mononomy
Point In 1926 by the fixed white light on Long
Point at the entrance of Provncetown harbor
The three beacons at Nauset were established
in 1887, and the revolving red light on Wood
End in 1872 These constitute the Gordon of
lights that guide the mariner along the back
shore of Cape Cod.